Scottish Executive

Asylum Seekers

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what guarantees it has received from the Home Office regarding the education and social contact of children detained at Dungavel House Immigration Removal Centre.

Peter Peacock: Home Office ministers have given a commitment to discuss with the Scottish Executive how the recommendations in the HM Chief Inspector of Prisons and HM Inspectorate of Education reports can be taken forward.

Asylum Seekers

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Refugee Integration Forum last met and when it will next meet.

Ms Margaret Curran: The Scottish Refugee Integration Forum was stood down following the publication of its Action Plan in February 2002.

Canals

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what canal restoration projects will not be able to proceed in light of the statement in British Waterways Annual Report 2002-03 that "funding is insufficient to meet the aspirations of the policy paper, Scotland's Canals - an asset for the future ".

Nicol Stephen: No specific canal restoration projects are identified as aspirations in the policy paper. However, an additional £2 million has been allocated to British Waterways in Scotland this year for important repair work to be undertaken on the Caledonian Canal. This funding is in addition to the £8.4 million grant that has already been allocated to British Waterways in Scotland by the Executive for 2003-04. Once this repair work has been completed, there will be no safety backlog arrears on Scotland’s canal network.

Cancer

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance is available to cancer patients and their carers living in the Highlands and Islands and other remote areas for the costs of travelling long distances for regular treatment.

Malcolm Chisholm: There are currently two statutory schemes which allow full or partial reimbursement of travelling expenses of patients, and where medically necessary, their escorts, which are necessarily incurred when attending a hospital for the purpose of patients availing themselves of services provided under the care of a hospital consultant, namely:

  (a) a means tested scheme covering the whole of the country, and

  (b) the Highlands and Islands Scheme which provides for the reimbursement of travelling expenses in excess of £8 without test of means. To qualify the patient must be resident or work in the former Highlands and Islands Development Board area. The distance travelled from the patient’s home must be 30 miles or more or involve a journey by sea of more than five miles.

Care Commission

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the annual running costs of the Care Commission have been since its establishment, broken down into relevant categories.

Mr Tom McCabe: The annual budgeted running costs of the Care Commission since its establishment and as set out in its grant-in-aid letters are as follows:

  


 


2002-03
(£000) 
  

2003-04
(£000) 
  



Operational Costs 
  

£17,456.5 
  

£19,266.0 
  



Administration Costs 
  

£3,537.0 
  

£5,757.3 
  



Total Expenditure 
  

£20,993.5 
  

£25,023.3 
  



Receipts 
  



Fees 
  

£5.825.8 
  

£5,408.3 
  



Grant-in-aid 
  

£15,480.0 
  

£19,615.0 
  



Total Income 
  

£21,305.8 
  

£25,023.3 
  



  These figures show expenditure and income in relation to services regulated prior to 1 April 2002. For those types of care services for which regulation has commenced since then (for example, child care agencies), the commission charges fees at a level intended to cover the full cost of regulation. The cost of regulating those services is in addition to the figures above and will not be known until some time after 30 September 2003, by which time services operating prior to 1 April 2003 are required to submit an application.

  The out-turn figures for 2002-03 will be shown in the commission’s accounts for that year, which are required to be laid before Parliament before the end of December 2003. The figures for 2003-04 reflect a revision of the Care Commission’s requirements based on more up to date information on the number of regulated services and the commission’s experience of regulating them in its first nine months of operation.

Care Commission

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what costs were incurred in the establishment of the Care Commission, broken down into (a) the transfer of functions to the commission, (b) the recruitment of staff, (c) the establishment of office accommodation, (d) advertising costs and (e) any other relevant costs.

Mr Tom McCabe: The information is not held in the format requested. My officials are considering the available information and I will write to you in due course, placing a copy of the letter in the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

Child Welfare

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to implement the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Peter Peacock: We reflect the articles contained within the Convention on the Rights of the Child when taking forward policy and introducing legislation that has an effect on the lives of children and young people.

Conservation of Seals (Scotland) Order 2002

Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will rescind the Conservation of Seals (Scotland) Order 2002, given that the outbreak of phocine distemper virus in seal is now over.

Allan Wilson: The Conservation of Seals (Scotland) Order 2002 was introduced on the basis of independent scientific advice from the Natural Environment Research Council’s Special Committee on Seals, the Government’s statutory advisors on seal management issues. The future of the order will be decided in the same way. The committee, which met to discuss this issue amongst others on 2 September, is expected to submit its conclusions towards the end of the year.

Debt

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to include energy debt in its debt arrangement scheme.

Hugh Henry: We propose to include energy debt in debt payment programmes approved under the debt arrangement scheme. In addition, in order to prevent current liability becoming debt, the cost of current supply will be taken into account and deducted along with other essential payments when calculating surplus income available to pay towards settlement of debt. I have written to the heads of the energy companies operating in Scotland seeking their agreement to protocols on the restriction of the use of pre-payment meters to collect arrears of energy debt.

Economy

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its targets are for (a) GDP growth and (b) GDP per head of population for each of the next five years.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive is committed to creating the conditions that will maximise our sustainable long-term economic growth. It does not forecast Scottish Gross Domestic Product growth on set targets in this regard.

Economy

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is using to measure the success of the economy; what targets it has set for each of these measures, and what the actual performance has been for each measure in each of the last three years.

Mr Jim Wallace: The performance of an economy may be assessed using a number of indicators ranging from macroeconomic indicators, such as Gross Domestic Product, employment and unemployment, to an array of microeconomic indicators including, for example, those identified in Measuring Scotland’s Progress Towards a Smart, Successful Scotland . The Executive is committed to creating the conditions that will maximise our long-term sustainable growth but does not set targets for key macroeconomic indicators. Details of recent trends in such statistics are available on the Scottish Executive website and are also published in the bi-annual Scottish Economic Report .

Economy

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive with reference to The Way Forward: Framework for Economic Development in Scotland , how it measures the rate of new business formation; how many new businesses have been formed in each area of Scotland in each of the last three years, and what its targets are for new business formation rates in each of the next three years.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Way Forward: Framework for Economic Development in Scotland describes the overarching structure within which detailed policy programmes can take place rather than describing detailed measurable targets. The primary official data source on new business formation is the number of new VAT registrations and this is usually expressed relative to the adult population. The table shows the number of new VAT registrations in each local authority in Scotland in the last three years for which data is available. There are no targets for the next three years.

  

 

1999 
  

2000 
  

2001 
  



Aberdeen City 
  

605 
  

630 
  

955 
  



Aberdeenshire 
  

545 
  

620 
  

565 
  



Angus 
  

215 
  

200 
  

190 
  



Argyll and Bute 
  

205 
  

200 
  

210 
  



Clackmannanshire 
  

85 
  

70 
  

75 
  



Dumfries and Galloway 
  

310 
  

290 
  

310 
  



Dundee City 
  

225 
  

210 
  

275 
  



East Ayrshire 
  

245 
  

215 
  

230 
  



East Dunbartonshire 
  

210 
  

200 
  

220 
  



East Lothian 
  

180 
  

185 
  

185 
  



East Renfrewshire 
  

190 
  

175 
  

160 
  



Edinburgh, City of 
  

1,435 
  

1,500 
  

1,365 
  



Eilean Siar 
  

70 
  

45 
  

55 
  



Falkirk 
  

270 
  

240 
  

255 
  



Fife 
  

645 
  

640 
  

610 
  



Glasgow City 
  

1,500 
  

1,460 
  

1,495 
  



Highland 
  

535 
  

525 
  

535 
  



Inverclyde 
  

105 
  

125 
  

110 
  



Midlothian 
  

135 
  

155 
  

135 
  



Moray 
  

160 
  

155 
  

150 
  



North Ayrshire 
  

235 
  

240 
  

205 
  



North Lanarkshire 
  

530 
  

565 
  

560 
  



Orkney Islands 
  

55 
  

70 
  

55 
  



Perth and Kinross 
  

385 
  

405 
  

375 
  



Renfrewshire 
  

335 
  

335 
  

320 
  



Scottish Borders, The 
  

325 
  

280 
  

265 
  



Shetland Islands 
  

75 
  

70 
  

45 
  



South Ayrshire 
  

240 
  

245 
  

255 
  



South Lanarkshire 
  

600 
  

615 
  

660 
  



Stirling 
  

265 
  

275 
  

225 
  



West Dunbartonshire 
  

145 
  

130 
  

115 
  



West Lothian 
  

355 
  

330 
  

360 
  



  Source: DTI VAT Registrations and De-registrations Statistics 2001.

Economy

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to The Way Forward: Framework for Economic Development in Scotland , how it measures better equipping our children for the demands of the global economy, what progress it has made towards achieving this goal, and what percentage of children are now "better equipped" than in 2000 and in what way, broken down by age group.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Way Forward: Framework for Economic Development in Scotland , describes the overarching structure within which detailed policy programmes will be developed rather than describing detailed measurable targets. Chapter 2, section 2 of the most recent edition of the Scottish Economic Report provides a summary of measures taken and planned in the future that are aimed at better equipping children for the demands of the global economy.

Economy

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to The Way Forward: Framework for Economic Development of Scotland , how it measures the enhancement of productivity in enterprises; what progress it has made towards achieving its stated goal of enhancing productivity throughout all Scottish enterprises, and what percentage of enterprises have experienced an improvement in their productivity in each of the last three years.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Way Forward: Framework for Economic Development in Scotland , describes the overarching structure within which more detailed policy programmes take place rather than describing detailed measurable targets.

  The standard international method for comparing productivity across enterprises is to consider Gross Domestic Product per employee (a broadly equivalent measure is gross value added per employee).

  The Office for National Statistics' Annual Business Inquiry (ABI) collects data from businesses which brings together accounting and employment data in the same survey. This allows us to estimate gross value added per employee, a measure of productivity, and is the most consistent source available to estimate changes in labour productivity. These data are, however, in current prices and require to be deflated in order to compare across different years. We have used the UK Gross Domestic Product deflator in order to convert this series to constant prices. (The main sectors not covered by the ABI are agriculture and fisheries, financial services, and some of the public sector).

  ABI figures for Scotland, for the most recent years in which we have data, indicate that gross value added per employee increased in real terms by an average annual increase of 0.65 per cent over the period 1998 to 2001.

  Figures are not currently available to estimate what percentage of enterprises have experienced an improvement in their productivity.

Economy

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to The Way Forward: Framework for Economic Development in Scotland , how it measures quality of life, what progress it has made towards achieving its stated goal of raising the quality of life for all the people in Scotland, and what percentage of people have had their quality of life improved in each of the last three years.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Way Forward: Framework for Economic Development in Scotland , describes the overarching structure within which more detailed policy programmes take place rather than describing detailed measurable targets.

Economy

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what input it has had into the establishment of regional inflation indicators by Her Majesty’s Government.

Mr Andy Kerr: : The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is adopting two parallel initiatives to meet the demand for regional price indicators. The first initiative will be to generate estimates, in the short-term, from existing sources of data, subject to these meeting minimum quality standards and being judged as fit for purpose. Statisticians in the Scottish Executive have had no input to this work which is intended to provide an independent statistical input into the deliberations of the Pay Review Bodies later this year. Secondly, ONS is undertaking a long-term project, which will look towards developing more robust and precise estimates, to National Statistics standards, following the outcome of the Allsopp Review. The Scottish Executive has already contributed significantly to the Allsopp Review, and will remain closely involved in the work which is taken forward as a result of the recommendations.

Ferry Services

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what subsidies are available to ferry operators for freight services serving the Orkney and Shetland Isles and whether these subsidies will be made available to all ferry operators carrying freight.

Nicol Stephen: Subsidies for general roll-on/roll-off or load-on/load-off freight services serving the Orkney and Shetland Isles were withdrawn in 1995. However, Tariff Rebate Subsidy (TRS) is paid to eligible shipping operators wholly or mainly engaged in providing bulk freight services to the Highlands and Islands in accordance with an undertaking, a draft of which has been laid before, and approved by, Parliament. Currently there is one small shipping company in receipt of TRS for bulk freight to Shetland.

Ferry Services

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what subsidies are available to ferry operators for livestock services serving the Orkney and Shetland Isles and whether these subsidies will be made available to all ferry operators carrying livestock.

Nicol Stephen: Under the terms of the Highlands and Islands Shipping Services Act 1960, Tariff Rebate Subsidy (TRS) is paid to eligible shipping operators wholly or mainly engaged in providing services to the Highlands and Islands in accordance with an undertaking, a draft of which has been laid before, and approved by, Parliament. Currently, only NorthLink Orkney and Shetland Ferries Ltd has an undertaking. Other operators are free to apply for admittance to the scheme and their applications would be assessed against the stipulated criteria.

Fisheries

Mr Ted Brocklebank (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that Scottish Water safeguards the future of the River Dee as a salmon river in light of the impact on stocks caused by drought and other factors during the summer of 2003.

Ross Finnie: Scottish Water’s use of the River Dee is regulated by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

  Also, the recently enacted Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003 provides for the introduction of a water management structure based on natural catchments that will set environmental objectives for every river, loch or section of coastal water in Scotland.

Flooding

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to identify, and invest in, areas vulnerable to flooding and coastal erosion.

Allan Wilson: The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) holds maps that indicate, approximately, those areas at an annual risk of flooding from rivers of 1% (1 in 100 year risk). In addition, a report commissioned by the Executive Climate Change: Flooding Occurrences Review provided an estimate of the number of properties adjacent to the coast which lie below the five metre contour and, therefore, potentially at risk of coastal flooding. (The report is available on the Executive's River and Coastal Flooding website at www.scotland.gov.uk/flooding).

  The Executive's National Flooding Framework includes a commitment to work with SEPA to produce second generation, but still indicative, flood risk maps. These will cover both river and coastal flood risk and take account of the latest available techniques and developments. This work is currently being taken forward.

  Local authorities have the necessary powers to address flood risk to non-agricultural land and coastal erosion in their areas and decisions on investment in defences are for them. The Executive has provided increased resources, amounting to £40 million for years 2003-04 to 2005-06, for local authorities' capital programmes for flood prevention and coast protection.

Further and Higher Education

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many overseas students are currently studying in Scotland.

Mr Jim Wallace: In session 2001-02 the number of overseas students studying at higher education (HE) level in Scotland stood at 20,482 and the number of overseas enrolments in   further education (FE) stood at 4,241.

  Notes:

  1. Overseas is defined here as non-UK domicile.

  2. These figures exclude all open and distance learning students as they are not deemed to be "studying in" Scotland.

  3. Information on the number of FE students is not currently available. Scottish Further Education Funding Council collects and publishes data on enrolments on individual courses at FE colleges. As individuals commonly enrol on more than one course in an academic year, the number of enrolments is significantly higher than the number of students.

  4. Sources: Higher Education Statistics Agency and Scottish Further Education Funding Council.

Further and Higher Education

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of overseas students returned home on completion of their studies in each of the last five years.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Executive does not hold data on the number of overseas students who returned to their home countries on completion of studies at Scottish institutions.

  First Destination Surveys, conducted by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) and the Scottish Further Education Funding Council, provide some information on the destinations of higher education level graduates and diplomates immediately on completion of studies at Scottish further and higher education institutions. Available data indicates that for academic year 1997-98, 13% of overseas higher education level graduates and diplomates from Scottish institutions took up opportunities for work or further study in Scotland. The comparable figure for academic year 1998-99 was 18%. Since 1999-2000 information on first destinations of non-EU graduates and diplomates has not been collected by HESA.

  Information on destinations of students at further education level is not available.

  Notes:

  1. The term "graduate" refers to a student who has successfully completed a course at first degree level or above; the term "diplomate" refers to a student who has successfully completed a course at higher education (sub-degree) level.

  2. The figures quoted are on known destinations of primarily full-time graduates and diplomates.

  3. Figures exclude all open and distance learning students from higher education institutes and further education colleges.

  4. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency and Scottish Further Education Funding Council.

Further and Higher Education

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many overseas students extended their stay beyond six months to complete their studies in each of the last five years.

Mr Jim Wallace: The following table shows the number of overseas graduates and diplomates completing courses lasting longer than six months, at higher education institutions and further education colleges in Scotland for the period from 1997-98 to 2001-02 inclusive.

  


Year 
  

Total 
  

HEIs 
  

FECs 
  



1997-98 
  

6,208 
  

5,820 
  

388 
  



1998-99 
  

5,116 
  

4,800 
  

316 
  



1999-2000 
  

5,356 
  

5,069 
  

287 
  



2000-01 
  

5,114 
  

4,899 
  

215 
  



2001-02 
  

* 
  

5,242 
  

* 
  



  Sources: Higher Education Statistics Agency and Scottish Further Education Funding Council (SFEFC).

  Notes:

  *This data is not yet available.

  1. The term "graduate" refers to a student who has successfully completed a course at first degree level or above; the term "diplomate" refers to a student who has successfully completed a course at higher education (sub-degree) level.

  2. Overseas is defined here as non-UK domicile.

  3. These figures exclude all open and distance learning students as those students are not deemed to be "studying in" Scotland.

  4. SFEFC collects and publishes data on enrolments on individual courses at further education colleges. As individuals commonly enrol on more than one course in an academic year, the number of enrolments is significantly higher than the number of students.

  5. Data shown is for courses with length greater than six months or 26 weeks.

Further and Higher Education

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many overseas students completed their studies at Scottish universities in six months or less in each of the last five years.

Mr Jim Wallace: The following table shows the number of overseas graduates and diplomates completing courses lasting six months or less at Scottish higher education institutions in academic years 1997-98 to 2001-02 inclusive.

  


1997-98 
  

27 
  



1998-99 
  

21 
  



1999-2000 
  

37 
  



2000-01 
  

54 
  



2001-02 
  

7 
  



  Source : Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

  Notes:

  1. The term "graduate" refers to a student who has successfully completed a course at first degree level or above; the term "diplomate" refers to a student who has successfully completed a course at higher education (sub-degree) level.

  2. Overseas is defined here as non-UK domicile.

  3. These figures exclude all open and distance learning students as those students are not deemed to be "studying in" Scotland.

  4. Data shown is for courses with length of six months or 26 weeks and below.

Further and Higher Education

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to support overseas students affected by the introduction of new charges from November 2003 for such students seeking an extension of their stay in the United Kingdom.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive does not provide support for overseas students, with the exception of students from EU member states who are entitled to the same tuition fee support as Scottish domiciled students. The Executive has no plans to review the position in this area.

Housing

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2O-364 by Mr Andy Kerr on 11 September 2003, whether it will submit written evidence to the Barker Review of Housing Supply, and, if so, whether it will make copies of the evidence available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Ms Margaret Curran: Discussions have been held recently between the Executive and the Barker Review Team at HM Treasury. We have agreed to provide the team with a range of information and statistical data on housing in Scotland which will be sent as soon as it is available. Copies of publicly available information supplied will be provided to the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

Housing

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-2346 by Mrs Mary Mulligan on 9 September 2003, which local authorities are considering whole housing stock transfer.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: Whole transfer proposals are currently being developed by Western Isles and Argyll and Bute Councils. It is not possible to say which other councils will pursue transfers until they have taken final decisions on whether to do so.

Housing

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-2346 by Mrs Mary Mulligan on 9 September 2003, whether the target of 70,000 houses to be transferred to community ownership includes partial stock transfer.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: Yes.

Housing

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the level of housing investment has been in each of the last 10 years, showing year on year percentage changes and broken down by local authority area.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: The information requested is shown in the following tables. It should be noted that the total council housing stock reduced by 25% between September 1993 and September 2002.

  Housing Revenue Account Gross Capital Expenditure Pre Local Authority Re-Organisation

  


 


1993-94
(£ Million) 
  

1993-94 to 1994-95
(% Change) 
  

1994-95
(£ Million) 
  

1994-94 to 1995-96
(% Change) 
  

1995-96
(£ Million) 
  



Berwickshire 
  

1.30 
  

-7.4 
  

1.21 
  

-64.3 
  

0.43 
  



Ettrick and Lauderdale 
  

2.55 
  

-11.5 
  

2.26 
  

1.1 
  

2.28 
  



Roxburgh 
  

2.91 
  

37.3 
  

3.99 
  

-22.3 
  

3.10 
  



Tweeddale 
  

1.51 
  

-47.7 
  

0.79 
  

42.7 
  

1.130 
  



Clackmannan 
  

4.14 
  

-0.6 
  

4.12 
  

-1.4 
  

4.06 
  



Falkirk 
  

14.89 
  

-3.2 
  

14.41 
  

-17.1 
  

11.94 
  



Stirling 
  

7.93 
  

-1.0 
  

7.85 
  

-1.6 
  

7.72 
  



Annandale and Eskdale 
  

4.14 
  

-18.0 
  

3.40 
  

-10.6 
  

3.04 
  



Nithsdale 
  

5.56 
  

-8.7 
  

5.08 
  

5.6 
  

5.36 
  



Stewartry 
  

2.03 
  

-15.2 
  

1.72 
  

-20.3 
  

1.37 
  



Wigtown 
  

3.24 
  

-4.0 
  

3.10 
  

7.9 
  

3.35 
  



Dunfermline 
  

7.96 
  

50.5 
  

11.98 
  

-3.7 
  

11.54 
  



Kirkcaldy 
  

7.06 
  

-0.9 
  

7.00 
  

79.7 
  

12.59 
  



North East Fife 
  

4.17 
  

14.5 
  

4.78 
  

-38.2 
  

2.96 
  



City of Aberdeen 
  

17.91 
  

5.7 
  

18.94 
  

4.8 
  

19.84 
  



Banff and Buchan 
  

6.13 
  

-2.4 
  

5.98 
  

7.4 
  

6.43 
  



Gordon 
  

7.55 
  

-4.7 
  

7.20 
  

-23.0 
  

5.54 
  



Kincardine and Deeside 
  

3.26 
  

-3.1 
  

3.16 
  

63.8 
  

5.18 
  



Moray 
  

5.85 
  

11.5 
  

6.52 
  

-19.3 
  

5.27 
  



Badenoch and Strathspey 
  

1.60 
  

-35.6 
  

1.03 
  

10.7 
  

1.14 
  



Caithness 
  

2.39 
  

42.3 
  

3.40 
  

-21.9 
  

2.66 
  



Inverness 
  

4.77 
  

30.7 
  

6.23 
  

-19.3 
  

5.03 
  



Lochaber 
  

3.06 
  

30.5 
  

3.99 
  

-6.3 
  

3.74 
  



Nairn 
  

0.97 
  

14.3 
  

1.10 
  

-24.6 
  

0.83 
  



Ross and Cromarty 
  

5.73 
  

-5.5 
  

5.41 
  

4.5 
  

5.66 
  



Skye and Lochalsh 
  

1.69 
  

-6.3 
  

1.58 
  

10.6 
  

1.75 
  



Sutherland 
  

1.74 
  

18.4 
  

2.06 
  

-30.3 
  

1.44 
  



East Lothian 
  

8.40 
  

-6.2 
  

7.88 
  

1.4 
  

7.99 
  



City of Edinburgh 
  

28.38 
  

13.4 
  

32.19 
  

-6.2 
  

30.19 
  



Midlothian 
  

6.55 
  

15.4 
  

7.56 
  

-11.9 
  

6.66 
  



West Lothian 
  

8.52 
  

26.9 
  

10.81 
  

-13.0 
  

9.40 
  



Argyll and Bute 
  

4.97 
  

-7.6 
  

4.59 
  

0.2 
  

4.60 
  



Bearsden and Milngavie 
  

1.16 
  

40.2 
  

1.63 
  

-1.7 
  

1.60 
  



Clydebank 
  

5.70 
  

16.1 
  

6.61 
  

11.9 
  

7.40 
  



Clydesdale 
  

3.91 
  

-1.5 
  

3.85 
  

-52.3 
  

1.83 
  



Cumbernauld and Kilsyth 
  

1.56 
  

4.7 
  

1.631 
  

0.6 
  

1.64 
  



Cumnock and Doon Valley 
  

4.56 
  

-16.3 
  

3.82 
  

-7.9 
  

3.51 
  



Cunninghame 
  

9.48 
  

17.8 
  

11.17 
  

-3.0 
  

10.84 
  



Dumbarton 
  

8.92 
  

3.5 
  

9.23 
  

-21.7 
  

7.23 
  



East Kilbride 
  

0.85 
  

38.0 
  

1.18 
  

49.6 
  

1.76 
  



Eastwood 
  

1.08 
  

108.2 
  

2.24 
  

-33.9 
  

1.48 
  



City of Glasgow 
  

105.24 
  

1.5 
  

106.82 
  

-11.2 
  

94.88 
  



Hamilton 
  

10.44 
  

20.9 
  

12.63 
  

18.2 
  

14.93 
  



Inverclyde 
  

10.40 
  

10.5 
  

11.49 
  

-4.3 
  

11.00 
  



Kilmarnock and Loudoun 
  

6.16 
  

-0.7 
  

6.11 
  

-0.6 
  

6.08 
  



Kyle and Carrick 
  

11.71 
  

13.2 
  

13.26 
  

-7.7 
  

12.25 
  



Monklands 
  

12.52 
  

28.0 
  

16.03 
  

-0.3 
  

15.98 
  



Motherwell 
  

18.36 
  

19.4 
  

21.91 
  

-17.9 
  

17.99 
  



Renfrew 
  

20.69 
  

11.3 
  

23.03 
  

10.4 
  

25.41 
  



Strathkelvin 
  

5.86 
  

-5.4 
  

5.54 
  

14.1 
  

6.32 
  



Angus 
  

5.52 
  

29.1 
  

7.12 
  

-3.0 
  

6.91 
  



City of Dundee 
  

16.11 
  

30.2 
  

20.97 
  

-47.7 
  

10.97 
  



Perth and Kinross 
  

11.87 
  

-28.6 
  

8.48 
  

-19.1 
  

6.86 
  



Orkney Islands 
  

0.64 
  

-0.4 
  

0.64 
  

48.9 
  

0.95 
  



Shetland Islands 
  

4.06 
  

25.3 
  

5.09 
  

-15.5 
  

4.30 
  



Comhairle nan Eilean Siar 
  

3.40 
  

11.2 
  

3.78 
  

-15.4 
  

3.20 
  



Scotland 
  

469.06 
  

7.8 
  

505.58 
  

-7.1 
  

469.54 
  



  Source: HSG1A.

  Notes:

  1. Until 1995-96 councils were permitted to reinvest all right to buy receipts.

  2. Additional allocations to enable councils to purchase new town stock in 1995-96 excluded from table.

  Housing Revenue Account Gross Capital Expenditure

  


 


1996-97
(£ Million) 
  

1997-98
(£ Million) 
  

1998-99
(£ Million) 
  

1999-2000
(£ Million) 
  

2000-01
(£ Million) 
  

2001-02
(£ Million) 
  

2002-03
(£ Million) 
  



Aberdeen City Council 
  

14.51 
  

15.09 
  

21.53 
  

24.61 
  

22.40 
  

20.55 
  

19.03 
  



Aberdeenshire Council 
  

10.45 
  

8.81 
  

8.31 
  

12.83 
  

14.04 
  

12.11 
  

7.49 
  



Angus Council 
  

7.76 
  

7.95 
  

6.43 
  

6.30 
  

7.11 
  

7.22 
  

6.85 
  



Argyll and Bute Council 
  

3.04 
  

4.60 
  

3.93 
  

4.18 
  

3.17 
  

3.28 
  

3.50 
  



Clackmannanshire Council 
  

3.56 
  

2.94 
  

3.22 
  

3.68 
  

4.02 
  

3.42 
  

3.25 
  



Dumfries and Galloway Council 
  

9.60 
  

8.66 
  

7.32 
  

10.39 
  

11.27 
  

8.72 
  

6.82 
  



Dundee City Council 
  

14.84 
  

11.87 
  

12.99 
  

12.80 
  

12.63 
  

11.82 
  

11.10 
  



East Ayrshire Council 
  

8.60 
  

7.50 
  

11.42 
  

8.30 
  

9.37 
  

9.63 
  

9.85 
  



East Dunbartonshire Council 
  

4.57 
  

3.03 
  

2.48 
  

3.27 
  

5.18 
  

4.16 
  

4.01 
  



East Lothian Council 
  

7.01 
  

7.16 
  

6.60 
  

7.15 
  

6.99 
  

5.22 
  

8.72 
  



East Renfrewshire Council 
  

2.21 
  

1.90 
  

1.42 
  

1.40 
  

2.03 
  

1.99 
  

2.21 
  



Edinburgh Council, City of 
  

25.20 
  

20.01 
  

21.17 
  

28.82 
  

26.66 
  

24.89 
  

23.69 
  



Eilean Siar, Comhairle nan 
  

2.80 
  

2.01 
  

2.19 
  

2.26 
  

2.30 
  

2.35 
  

2.69 
  



Falkirk Council 
  

10.54 
  

8.04 
  

10.83 
  

12.70 
  

13.44 
  

12.38 
  

14.16 
  



Fife Council 
  

16.31 
  

11.94 
  

21.23 
  

22.78 
  

21.39 
  

24.99 
  

23.72 
  



Glasgow City Council 
  

76.62 
  

51.62 
  

50.37 
  

53.02 
  

60.09 
  

77.72 
  

105.61 
  



Highland Council 
  

14.69 
  

9.51 
  

10.22 
  

11.23 
  

13.80 
  

14.64 
  

12.34 
  



Inverclyde Council 
  

7.28 
  

6.55 
  

5.71 
  

6.72 
  

6.60 
  

5.86 
  

5.53 
  



Midlothian Council 
  

4.65 
  

4.48 
  

4.54 
  

4.52 
  

4.62 
  

5.84 
  

5.15 
  



Moray Council 
  

3.98 
  

4.60 
  

3.08 
  

2.34 
  

3.91 
  

3.46 
  

3.27 
  



North Ayrshire Council 
  

10.90 
  

6.81 
  

6.14 
  

7.54 
  

7.20 
  

7.38 
  

7.56 
  



North Lanarkshire Council 
  

26.89 
  

30.96 
  

24.27 
  

25.28 
  

25.10 
  

22.96 
  

24.49 
  



Orkney Islands Council 
  

0.70 
  

0.53 
  

0.49 
  

0.47 
  

0.90 
  

0.76 
  

0.77 
  



Perth and Kinross Council 
  

5.74 
  

3.70 
  

3.63 
  

3.58 
  

6.17 
  

3.39 
  

5.96 
  



Renfrewshire Council 
  

13.60 
  

13.95 
  

13.83 
  

13.92 
  

11.33 
  

12.58 
  

13.02 
  



Scottish Borders Council 
  

4.98 
  

3.38 
  

4.77 
  

3.62 
  

4.31 
  

3.53 
  

2.34 
  



Shetland Islands Council 
  

3.35 
  

2.42 
  

2.16 
  

2.02 
  

3.42 
  

3.35 
  

2.00 
  



South Ayrshire Council 
  

6.66 
  

6.44 
  

7.26 
  

7.44 
  

7.12 
  

7.72 
  

7.55 
  



South Lanarkshire Council 
  

16.50 
  

16.82 
  

20.56 
  

18.52 
  

16.61 
  

18.16 
  

21.88 
  



Stirling Council 
  

6.22 
  

4.96 
  

5.14 
  

4.50 
  

6.42 
  

6.31 
  

5.98 
  



West Dunbartonshire Council 
  

8.30 
  

8.84 
  

7.05 
  

7.34 
  

8.23 
  

7.17 
  

6.83 
  



West Lothian Council 
  

9.70 
  

11.05 
  

12.41 
  

11.34 
  

12.11 
  

13.76 
  

23.17 
  



Scotland 
  

361.76 
  

308.13 
  

322.70 
  

344.87 
  

359.94 
  

367.32 
  

400.54 
  



  Source: CCPR 1996-97 to 2000-01 HRA 2001-02 to 2002-03.

  Notes:

  1. In 1996-97, 25% of right to buy receipts required to be set aside to redeem debt; this was increased to 75% in 1997-98.

  2. Additional allocations to enable councils to purchase new town stock in 1996-97 excluded from table.

  Housing Revenue Account Gross Capital Expenditure

  


Percentage Change 
  

1996-97
to
1997-98 
  

1997-98
to
1998-99 
  

1998-99
to
1999-2000 
  

1999-2000
to
2000-01 
  

2000-01
to
2001-02 
  

2001-02
to
2002-03 
  



Aberdeen City Council 
  

4.0 
  

42.7 
  

14.3 
  

-9.0 
  

-8.3 
  

-7.4 
  



Aberdeenshire Council 
  

-15.7 
  

-5.7 
  

54.4 
  

9.4 
  

-13.7 
  

-38.2 
  



Angus Council 
  

2.4 
  

-19.0 
  

-2.1 
  

12.9 
  

1.5 
  

-5.1 
  



Argyll and Bute Council 
  

51.5 
  

-14.7 
  

6.4 
  

-24.0 
  

3.4 
  

6.6 
  



Clackmannanshire Council 
  

-17.3 
  

9.3 
  

14.4 
  

9.3 
  

-15.0 
  

-5.0 
  



Dumfries and Galloway Council 
  

-9.7 
  

-15.5 
  

41.9 
  

8.4 
  

-22.6 
  

-21.8 
  



Dundee City Council 
  

-20.0 
  

9.4 
  

-1.5 
  

-1.3 
  

-6.4 
  

-6.1 
  



East Ayrshire Council 
  

-12.8 
  

52.4 
  

-27.3 
  

12.8 
  

2.8 
  

2.3 
  



East Dunbartonshire Council 
  

-33.6 
  

-18.2 
  

31.7 
  

58.5 
  

-19.7 
  

-3.4 
  



East Lothian Council 
  

2.2 
  

-7.8 
  

8.2 
  

-2.2 
  

-25.3 
  

66.9 
  



East Renfrewshire Council 
  

-14.1 
  

-25.2 
  

-1.4 
  

45.0 
  

-2.1 
  

11.0 
  



Edinburgh Council, City of 
  

-20.58 
  

5.81 
  

36.11 
  

-7.50 
  

-6.64 
  

-4.82 
  



Eilean Siar, Comhairle nan 
  

-28.41 
  

9.17 
  

3.38 
  

1.63 
  

2.35 
  

14.27 
  



Falkirk Council 
  

-23.66 
  

34.70 
  

17.24 
  

5.80 
  

-7.87 
  

14.38 
  



Fife Council 
  

-26.79 
  

77.81 
  

7.28 
  

-6.12 
  

16.86 
  

-5.09 
  



Glasgow City Council 
  

-32.63 
  

-2.41 
  

5.25 
  

13.34 
  

29.34 
  

35.88 
  



Highland Council 
  

-35.29 
  

7.50 
  

9.84 
  

22.95 
  

6.09 
  

-15.73 
  



Inverclyde Council 
  

-10.03 
  

-12.71 
  

17.67 
  

-1.81 
  

-11.23 
  

-5.65 
  



Midlothian Council 
  

-3.74 
  

1.47 
  

-0.55 
  

2.24 
  

26.40 
  

-11.79 
  



Moray Council 
  

15.35 
  

-32.99 
  

-23.90 
  

66.94 
  

-11.58 
  

-5.61 
  



North Ayrshire Council 
  

-37.52 
  

-9.85 
  

22.87 
  

-4.55 
  

2.49 
  

2.40 
  



North Lanarkshire Council 
  

15.13 
  

-21.61 
  

4.17 
  

-0.73 
  

-8.51 
  

6.63 
  



Orkney Islands Council 
  

-23.82 
  

-8.00 
  

-4.47 
  

92.55 
  

-16.02 
  

1.32 
  



Perth and Kinross Council 
  

-35.48 
  

-1.81 
  

-1.60 
  

72.68 
  

-45.05 
  

75.63 
  



Renfrewshire Council 
  

2.63 
  

-0.90 
  

0.62 
  

-18.58 
  

11.04 
  

3.45 
  



Scottish Borders Council 
  

-32.16 
  

41.04 
  

-24.09 
  

19.06 
  

-18.12 
  

-33.60 
  



Shetland Islands Council 
  

-27.54 
  

-10.97 
  

-6.25 
  

68.77 
  

-1.96 
  

-40.28 
  



South Ayrshire Council 
  

-3.26 
  

12.70 
  

2.55 
  

-4.38 
  

8.47 
  

-2.25 
  



South Lanarkshire Council 
  

1.94 
  

22.23 
  

-9.91 
  

-10.30 
  

9.31 
  

20.46 
  



Stirling Council 
  

-20.31 
  

3.69 
  

-12.41 
  

42.57 
  

-1.65 
  

-5.18 
  



West Dunbartonshire Council 
  

6.62 
  

-20.23 
  

4.00 
  

12.23 
  

-12.92 
  

-4.74 
  



West Lothian Council 
  

13.88 
  

12.30 
  

-8.59 
  

6.79 
  

13.59 
  

68.35 
  



Scotland 
  

-14.82 
  

4.74 
  

6.86 
  

4.37 
  

2.05 
  

9.03 
  



  Note:

  Unable to show percentage change between 1995-96 and 1996-97 because of boundary changes following local government re-organisation.

Housing

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many rural home ownership grants have been awarded in each local authority area for each year since the scheme was created and what the average cost is of administering individual applications for such grants.

Ms Margaret Curran: I have asked Angiolina Foster, acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

  Information in the form requested is only available since 1996-97. The number of rural home ownership grants (RHOG) that have been awarded in each local authority area in the period 1996-97 to 2002-03 is as follows:

  Number of RHOG Approvals by Unitary Authority (1996-97 to 2002-03)

  





1996-97 
  

1997-98 
  

1998-99 
  

1999-2000 
  

2000-01 
  

2001-02 
  

2002-03 
  



Aberdeenshire 
  

2 
  

0 
  

1 
  

1 
  

0 
  

0 
  

1 
  



Angus 
  

2 
  

0 
  

1 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  



Argyll and Bute 
  

2 
  

1 
  

1 
  

4 
  

4 
  

8 
  

1 
  



Highland 
  

18 
  

19 
  

19 
  

16 
  

22 
  

15 
  

27 
  



Moray 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

1 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  



Orkney Islands 
  

12 
  

12 
  

7 
  

14 
  

17 
  

25 
  

26 
  



Perth and Kinross 
  

12 
  

3 
  

5 
  

1 
  

2 
  

1 
  

3 
  



Shetland Islands 
  

5 
  

1 
  

5 
  

6 
  

2 
  

5 
  

3 
  



Stirling 
  

0 
  

1 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  



The Scottish Borders 
  

6 
  

5 
  

3 
  

4 
  

2 
  

1 
  

2 
  



Western Isles 
  

4 
  

3 
  

2 
  

3 
  

2 
  

0 
  

1 
  



  Records are not maintained on the costs of administering individual project applications.

Justice

Mrs Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made towards increasing the use of restorative justice in the justice system.

Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive is promoting the concept of restorative justice through a number of different initiatives. For example, £2 million was made available in March 2002 to develop restorative justice services for offenders under 16. This will be supplemented by further measures to tackle anti-social behaviour and youth crime. In addition, the programmes, which support the Youth Court pilot in Hamilton, include restorative justice principles.

  In the adult justice system, a number of well-established mediation and reparation schemes are funded by the Executive as part of diversion from prosecution services. These operate in Aberdeen, Edinburgh Midlothian and North and South Lanarkshire.

  The Scottish Police Service received £250,000 for training and to support a Scotland-wide system of restorative cautions in December 2002 and a further £250,000 will support work to identify good practice and the production of guidance this autumn.

  The victim’s perspective is critical to such schemes and the Victims Steering Group, chaired by Hugh Henry, will discuss restorative justice issues at its next meeting in October.

Justice

Mrs Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review the law on crimes involving the use of a knife.

Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive is committed, in the Partnership Agreement, to review the law and enforcement on knife crimes. Work is under way and we will be seeking the views of the police on the current legislation on knife crimes and its enforcement in due course.

Justice

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many bail supervision schemes have been set up.

Hugh Henry: Bail supervision schemes are operated by local authority criminal justice social work teams, which are organised on a grouping/unitary authority basis. Schemes are currently available to sheriff courts in the following areas:

  Ayrshire (confined to solemn cases)

  Argyll and Bute/Dunbartonshire

  Fife

  Forth Valley

  Edinburgh, Lothians and Scottish Borders (excluding Linlithgow and courts in Scottish Borders)

  Glasgow (also includes Stipendiary Magistrates Court)

  Lanarkshire (excluding Airdrie and Lanark)

  Northern

  Orkney

  Tayside (non-residential bail not provided at Dundee and Perth)

  The following areas do not currently provide bail supervision schemes:

  Dumfries and Galloway

  Renfrewshire and Inverclyde

  Shetland

  Western Isles

Justice

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been put on bail supervision schemes.

Hugh Henry: The number of cases dealt with by local authorities requiring bail supervision in 2002-03 was 646.

Local Government

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it ensures that a commitment to transparency on decision-making and procedures is applied by local authorities.

Mr Andy Kerr: This is being achieved by statutory means and by changes to audit and reporting arrangements.

  Section 1 of the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 places all local authorities under a statutory duty to secure Best Value. Scottish ministers have issued guidance under section 2(1) of the act on the key characteristics of a local authority which secures Best Value. These characteristics include transparency in decision making and accountability for performance. This guidance is available on the Scottish Executive website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/localgov/lgsabv.pdf.

  Section 13 of the act places all local authorities under a statutory duty to make arrangements for the reporting to the public of the outcome of performance of functions. Regulations and guidance to support this duty are currently under consultation, which will close on 21 November. A copy of the consultation document can be found at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/consultations/localgov/pubrepsla.pdf.

Local Government

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the relevant timescale is for a complaint against a local authority or a specific councillor to be processed by the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman.

Tavish Scott: The Scottish Public Services Ombudsman Act 2002 does not provide timescales for the processing of complaints by the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman. The ombudsman is wholly responsible for the consideration and management of complaints received by her office.

Local Government Finance

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether adequate funding is given to (a) Orkney Islands Council and (b) Shetland Island Council for the provision of internal ferry and air services.

Mr Andy Kerr: The recent local government finance settlement from Spending Review 2002 gave increases of 6.9%, 4.9%, 3.4% (£3.2 million, £2.4 million, £1.8 million) to Orkney Islands Council and 6.9%, 4.0%, 3.4% (£4.6 million, £2.8 million, £2.5 million) to Shetland Islands Council, for 2003-04 to 2005-06. It is up to each local authority to make their own spending decisions to reflect local needs and priorities.

  Additionally, the Scottish Executive sponsors Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL), which is the main airport operator in the Highlands and Islands. In 2002-03, the total support provided by the Executive to HIAL for the operation of its 10 airports was £24.05 million.

Local Government Finance

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the per capita local government funding for 2003-04 is for (a) Orkney Islands Council, (b) Shetland Islands Council, (c) Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, (d) the Highland Council, (e) Moray Council and (f) Argyll and Bute Council.

Mr Andy Kerr: Details of how much each authority has received in revenue grant can be found in the local government finance circular 1/2003 (Bib. number 26534) which is available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

NHS Funding

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the per capita funding for 2003-04 is for (a) NHS Highland, (b) NHS Shetland, (c) NHS Orkney, (d) the Western Isles NHS Board, (e) NHS Grampian and (f) Argyll and Clyde NHS Board.

Malcolm Chisholm: Revenue per capita funding allocated to date for 2003-04 is as follows:

  

 

£ 
  



Highland NHS Board 
  

1,115 
  



Shetland NHS Board 
  

1,257 
  



Orkney NHS Board 
  

1,186 
  



Western Isles NHS Board 
  

1,651 
  



Grampian NHS Board 
  

 955 
  



Argyll and Clyde NHS Board 
  

1,070

Oil and Gas Industry

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Department for Trade and Industry regarding the impact of the European Working Time Directive in communities where oil and gas is the major industry.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the Department of Trade and Industry on a wide range of issues, including the impact of the European Working Time Directive in the oil and gas industry.

Pensioners

John Swinburne (Central Scotland) (SSCUP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many pensioners lived below Her Majesty's Government's designated poverty level, broken down by (a) gender and (b) age, in each year since 1997, expressed also as a percentage of the total pensioner population.

Ms Margaret Curran: The tables present numbers and proportions of pensioners living in households with income below 60% of the GB median, in each year from 1996-97 to 2001-02, by gender. Information is not available by age.

  Table 1 presents information based on the absolute measure of poverty: that is, where the threshold is based on the median income in the base year of 1996-97, uprated to the current year’s prices. Table 2 presents information based on the relative measure of poverty: that is, where the threshold is based on the current year’s median income.

  The gender breakdowns should be treated with caution, since it is the income level of the household, rather than the individual, which determines whether or not an individual is living in income poverty.

  Table 1: Pensioners Living in Households Below 60% of GB Median Income after Housing Costs

  


Year 
  

Absolute Measure 
  



Male 
  

Female 
  

Total 
  



No. (000) 
  

% 
  

No. (000) 
  

% 
  

No. (000) 
  

% 
  



1996-97 
  

70 
  

24 
  

180 
  

32 
  

250 
  

29 
  



1997-98 
  

70 
  

24 
  

140 
  

26 
  

220 
  

25 
  



1998-99 
  

60 
  

21 
  

130 
  

23 
  

200 
  

23 
  



1999-2000 
  

60 
  

19 
  

130 
  

22 
  

180 
  

21 
  



2000-01 
  

40 
  

13 
  

90 
  

15 
  

130 
  

14 
  



2001-02 
  

30 
  

8 
  

50 
  

9 
  

80 
  

9 
  



  Table 2

  


Year 
  

Relative Measure 
  



Male 
  

Female 
  

Total 
  



No. (000) 
  

% 
  

No. (000) 
  

% 
  

No. (000) 
  

% 
  



1996-97 
  

70 
  

24 
  

180 
  

32 
  

250 
  

29 
  



1997-98 
  

70 
  

25 
  

150 
  

26 
  

220 
  

26 
  



1998-99 
  

70 
  

24 
  

150 
  

27 
  

230 
  

26 
  



1999-2000 
  

70 
  

24 
  

160 
  

27 
  

230 
  

26 
  



2000-01 
  

70 
  

22 
  

140 
  

25 
  

210 
  

24 
  



2001-02 
  

60 
  

20 
  

110 
  

19 
  

170 
  

20 
  



  Notes:

  1. Small changes in estimates from year to year may not be significant in view of data uncertainties.

  2. In order to make comparisons of living standards between different household types, income is adjusted to take account of variations in size and composition of the household in a process known as equivalisation. This adjustment reflects the notion that a family of several people requires a higher income than a single person in order for both households to enjoy a comparable standard of living.

Piers and Harbours

Mr Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the known cases of accelerated low water corrosion are affecting harbours and piers.

Nicol Stephen: We do not keep records on the scale of this problem, nor are we aware of any comprehensive survey work having been done, either at piers and harbours supporting lifeline ferries or at the many small fisheries and general piers and harbours throughout Scotland.

Piers and Harbours

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the construction of Stromness, Scrabster and Hatston piers was completed within agreed (a) time limits and (b) budgetary limits.

Nicol Stephen: Construction of new berthing facilities to enable NorthLink's new vessels to berth at Scrabster, Stromness and Hatston is a matter for the harbour authorities concerned, respectively, the Scrabster Harbour Trust and the Orkney Islands Council.

  Both harbour authorities had planned to have usable berths available by 1 October 2002 when NorthLink's services started, recognising that further work would be necessary to complete each project. Usable berths were available at Stromness and Hatston as required, but the new Queen Elizabeth Pier at Scrabster did not become usable by NorthLink until 15 September 2003.

  Final project costs are not yet available. However, we understand that in all three projects, the final costs will exceed the authorities’ pre-tender estimates.

Planning

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will bring forward any proposed changes to the planning system.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: The Partnership Agreement commits the Executive to "improve the planning system to strengthen involvement of communities, speed up decisions, reflect local views better and allow quicker investment decisions". The modernisation programme builds on measures set out in the Conclusions of the Review of Strategic Planning and the white paper Your Place, Your Plan , copies of which are available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. numbers 22236 and 27246).

  We are currently consulting on proposals to improve the operation of public local inquiries and, by the end of the year, we expect to launch consultations on widening rights of appeal in planning and modernising the development planning process. Some of these measures will require changes to primary legislation. On 29 September, we published research on the possible content of a planning bill, Options for Change, a copy of which is available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 29390).

Pre-School Education

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authorities have partnership arrangements with the voluntary sector for the provision of pre-school nursery and play provision.

Euan Robson: The Standards in Scotland’s Schools etc Act 2000, which came into force in April 2002, placed a duty on authorities to secure a pre-school education place for all eligible children. The duty allows local authorities to secure pre-school education from voluntary or private partner providers within the sector and every local authority in Scotland commission’s pre-school education places from partners. In July of this year I launched fresh guidance to local authorities on Commissioning Pre-school Education Partners. This was in recognition of the importance of partnership arrangements in delivering pre-school education.

  The Childcare Strategy aims to provide accessible, affordable, quality child care to support families. The strategy is part of the integrated agenda for the delivery of children's services to which play and play provision make an important contribution. Under guidance issued in October 1998, all local authorities were required to establish a Childcare Partnership, ensuring that they represented a range of interests including the voluntary sector. Every local authority in Scotland now has a Childcare Partnership, and the partnership’s view is taken into account in the provision of services to meet the aims of the Childcare Strategy.

Public Appointments

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements are being made and what procedure is being followed to advertise, interview, shortlist and appoint a new chair for the board of Scottish Enterprise.

Mr Jim Wallace: The appointment of the new Scottish Enterprise Chair will be made in accordance with the Code of Practice issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

  Adverts for this post appeared in the press on 20 June with a closing date of 1 August. The Executive is currently in the process of assessing the applications received.

Public Sector Pay

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty's Government regarding the introduction of regional pay bargaining for the public sector.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including regional pay.

Regional Selective Assistance

Mr Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish information on its use of the Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) scheme.

Lewis Macdonald: The first RSA Scotland Annual Report is published today. A copy has been placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 29374).

Renewable Energy

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much was given in the form of grants and subsidies to new and existing on-shore and off-shore wind farms in each of the last five years and what expenditure it intends to commit for such wind farms for 2004-05.

Lewis Macdonald: We announced on 28 August this year that the Executive will contribute £194,000 to Talisman Energy (UK) to assist in the development of a demonstration project for the world’s first deep water offshore wind farm. This commitment will be met from our existing programme budget for the promotion of renewable energy. Information regarding future spending commitments is unavailable.

  The developers of the offshore wind farm in the Solway Firth have been awarded an £18 million capital grant from the UK scheme operated by the Department of Trade and Industry. A third round totalling £44 million closed on 30 June this year. There are currently no plans for further rounds.

  Generating stations using renewable energy also qualify for support under the Renewables Obligation Scotland Order (2002). The additional costs imposed upon electricity suppliers under the obligation, estimated to reach around 4-5% by 2010, are met by all electricity consumers. There is no additional support available for onshore windfarms outwith the obligation.

Renewable Energy

Mr Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines it has issued to aid the successful placement of wave and tidal power machines in Scottish waters.

Lewis Macdonald: No such guidelines have been issued. The Scottish Executive has contributed £2.125 million as the main sponsor of the Marine Energy Test Centre in waters off Orkney. This centre will allow companies to test and subsequently accredit their devices following successful operation in a suitable environment.

  The accelerated development of the wave and tidal industry in Scotland is also a high priority consideration for the Forum for Renewable Energy Development in Scotland (FREDS), due to hold its inaugural meeting next month.

Renewable Energy

Mr Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Ministry of Defence on any reservations the ministry may have over the placement of wave and tidal power plants in Scottish waters.

Lewis Macdonald: None. The development of our offshore renewable energy resource will be faced with a number of constraints, including those imposed by shipping of all kinds as well as fishing and the marine environment. We are currently considering how these matters will be addressed well before any substantial development begins to take place.

Renewable Energy

Mr Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list any applications for wind farms that have been referred to the Ministry of Defence for approval.

Lewis Macdonald: Applications for consent under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 are subject to consultation with interested parties. In view of its wide-ranging safeguarding interests, the Ministry of Defence is one of these bodies and is accordingly invited to comment on all applications received. Consultees, such as the Ministry of Defence do not approve applications, but have the opportunity to comment on them in light of their interests. These comments are a material consideration in the determination of the application.

  A list of all applications for s36 consent made since September 2001 is available on the energy web page (www.scotland.gov.uk/enterprise/energy). We do not hold a central record of applications for wind farm developments under the local planning system, but these too are subject to consultation with the Ministry of Defence.

Roads

Mrs Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce the outcome of its consultation on proposals to reduce disruption from utilities’ road works.

Nicol Stephen: While the 2001 consultation provided useful initial views on how the co-ordination of road works could be improved, the Scottish Executive is currently looking at a range of options in order to determine what might be the best long-term approach for Scotland. We hope to be in a position to announce our proposals soon.

Roads

Mrs Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive which responses received to its consultation paper Reducing Disruption From Utilities’ Road Works were in favour of lane rental charges.

Nicol Stephen: Seventy-three responses were received to the consultation paper Reducing Disruption From Utilities’ Road Works . Twenty-four responses indicated a preference for the introduction of lane rental charges.

Scottish Natural Heritage

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has spent on Kinloch Castle since the inception of SNH; how much has been spent on restoration of the castle; what plans SNH has to restore the castle, and when any such plans will be implemented.

Allan Wilson: This is an operational matter for SNH.

Teachers

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-1196 by Peter Peacock on 17 July 2003, how it monitors the application of disciplinary procedures by education authorities.

Peter Peacock: We do not monitor the application of teacher disciplinary procedures by education authorities. However, the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers is able to offer advice to local negotiating committees if any issues arise in relation to disciplinary procedures.

Teachers

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-1192 by Peter Peacock on 17 July 2003, when the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers will publish its precise methodology for monitoring local agreements on the revised disciplinary framework for teachers agreed on 27 February 2003.

Peter Peacock: The publication of the arrangements for monitoring local agreements is a matter for the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT). The agreement, A Teaching Profession for the 21st Century , recommends that the SNCT conducts a thorough review of the arrangements for local negotiation, which would include disciplinary arrangements, no later than August 2004.

Teachers

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-1191 by Peter Peacock on 17 July 2003, what arrangements there are to ensure that local negotiations on revised disciplinary procedures do not leave any scope for misunderstanding and misapplication by education officials.

Peter Peacock: The clarity of local agreements is a matter for local negotiators. The revised disciplinary framework agreed by the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers establishes a basic framework that will ensure that procedures are both fair and effective. It also contains an appeals mechanism to a higher level within the authority.

Telecommunications

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken in response to the recommendation in the report by the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones, Mobile Phones and Health , that clearly-defined physical exclusion zones be established around base station antennas that delineate areas within which exposure guidelines may be exceeded.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Government response to the report from the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones (IEGMP) said that clear exclusion zones should already be in place around all base station antennas to prevent the public from exposure to radiofrequency radiation above the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) guidelines.

  Annex B to Planning Advice Note PAN 62 on Radio Public Telecommunications refers to the need for operators to comply with current Health and Safety at Work legislation and to establish, where necessary, an exclusion zone around each antenna within which people cannot freely pass.

  In addition, the Mobile Operators Association’s Ten Commitments document on self-regulation includes a programme for compliance with current guidelines on public exposures for all radio base stations. The commitments require inclusion of certification of compliance with public exposure guidelines in all planning applications for base station installation. This is also a statutory requirement in Scotland. All indications to date suggest full compliance with these requirements.

Young People

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support the development of national standards to assist in the monitoring of youth projects.

Euan Robson: As part of the inspection of community learning and development, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) report on aspects of youth work provision. HMIE reports comment on the quality of the youth work provision and, where necessary, make recommendations on action required to be undertaken for improvement.

  To assist this process, HMIE published How good is our community learning and development? in May 2002. The document is designed to help practitioners and managers in their self-evaluation of community learning and development activities and in exercising their responsibilities for quality assurance. It includes a set of quality indicators, a subset of which relate specifically to youth work, suitable for use by providers of community learning and development as well as in external evaluation by HMIE. This set of indicators provides an opportunity to develop and continue a productive partnership to improve the quality of this important field of education. The document is available at http://www.hmie.gov.uk/documents/publication/cldfull.pdf.